Celebrate World Kindness Day

Have you noticed a little more kindness in the air this week? I hope so. Sunday was World Kindness Day, a day that has been celebrated on November 13 since 1998. Initiated by an international coalition, the goal was to create a day that would help raise awareness of kindness as a unifying power between people everywhere.

Kindness may seem a vague concept, too simple to hold much sway, but I think it could be the simple solution to most of life’s problems.  According to MentalFlow.com, here are five positive side effects of kindness ~

1. A Healthier Heart ~ Kindness creates emotional warmth and produces oxytocin in the brain and body. Nitric oxide is released and expands the blood vessels, which helps in lowering blood pressure.
2. Better Relationships ~ Kindness helps to reduce the emotional barriers between two people and allows people to be more open and bonded with each other.
3. More Joy ~ Kindness increases happiness by elevating levels of dopamine in our brain, which helps in lifting our spirits.
4. Anti-Aging Benefits ~ Oxytocin also helps in slowing down the aging process by reducing high levels of free radicals and inflation in the cardiovascular system.
5. Kindness is Contagious ~ Acts of kindness have a ripple effect that is passed on and inspires more and more people to be kind.

Of course, like other important holidays such as National Taco Day and National Kitten Day, we don’t want the celebration to last just 24 hours. We can keep the kindness going by setting a personal intention to perform at least three random acts of kindness each and every day.

Here are a few random acts of kindness to get us started ~

1. Say hello.
2. Let someone go first.
3. Help someone in need.
4. Share what you have.
5. Stop for a chat.
6. Offer a sincere compliment.
7. Listen.
8. Check on a friend.
9. Hold the door.
10. Give a hug.
11. Clean up a mess you didn’t make.
12. Use a nice tone of voice.
13. Be patient.
14. Pick up trash.
15. Mail a greeting card to someone.
16. Say please and thank you.
17. Make a donation.
18. Take the high road.
19. Read to a child.
20. Do someone a big favor. §

“Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible.”
~ Dalai Lama